Eurocities Digital Forum 2026

“Fostering a People-Centred Digital Tomorrow”

Welcome to the 2026 Eurocities Digital Forum in Sofia! 

Whether in the digital world or on the political stage, we are living in challenging realities. Once again, cities are called upon to act as crucial anchors of stability and decency, trusted by our citizens. More than ever, as cities, we want to work together to ensure that the values of democracy, the rule of law, and human dignity are safeguarded – both online and offline.

We invite you to join us on April 15-17 for the 2026 Eurocities Digital Forum, hosted by Sofia Municipality, for three days of dialogue and innovation, high‑level discussions, hands‑on workshops, collaborative sessions, and inspiring site visits, focusing on fostering and safeguarding a people-centred digital transformation in an increasingly connected world. From participatory governance and digital rights to data spaces, local digital twins, cybersecurity and other innovative urban solutions, the Forum will explore the role of cities in advancing an inclusive, resilient and sustainable digital future.

Why join us?

• Connect with leading European cities, policymakers, and peers from all over Europe
• Share best practices, and explore together challenges and opportunities in digital transformation
• Contribute to shaping Eurocities’ advocacy towards the EU institutions
• Experience Sofia’s dynamic digital and innovative ecosystem

Programme Highlights

Day 1 – Policy Summit: “Digital Democracy: Citizens, Policy, and Participation”:

• High-level political discussions on cities' role in advancing people-centred digital tomorrow

• Strategic dialogue on leveraging data spaces to enhance citizen-centric urban services

• Interactive exchanges on how digital tools and innovations can enhance city services and contribute to higher quality of urban life

• Keynote speeches from European institutional leaders

Day 2 – Technical Innovation & Collaboration: “People, Policies, and Technologies”

• Exclusive breakfast session for CIOs

• Workshops hosted by the Digital Forum Working Groups: WG Data, WG Foresight, WG Digital Citizenship

• Digital Forum Lab and Cybersecurity Community of Practice showcase

• Guided tour: “Discover Sofia: A Journey Through Time

Day 3 – Collaboration for a Sustainable Digital Future: Real-World Application

• Site visits to GATE Institute – the first Centre of Excellence in Big Data and AI in Eastern Europe, and Sofia Tech Park – home to the Discoverer petascale supercomputer

• Meet with representatives of the local startup and innovation ecosystem

• Digital Forum Business Meeting: look back on the main highlights of the event and discuss upcoming Digital Forum activities

Join the Conversation

Together, we will explore how cities can lead the way in facilitating and ensuring a people-centred digital and sustainable future. We will work to advocate for stronger support at EU level, exchange on how to scale up successful examples of city action, and promote the smart cities of tomorrow. Our discussions will result in actionable strategies for implementing people-centred digital transformation across European cities. Join us and bring your city’s perspective and experience! Register now

Living-in.EU Digital Assembly 2026

Key Technologies for Future-Proof Cities: from data spaces to digital twins

The Living-in.EU Digital Assembly is the political advisory body of the Living-in.EU network. It is co-chaired by Lluïsa Moret Sabidó, Mayor of Sant Boi de Llobregat, and Ivan Goychev, Deputy Mayor for Digitalisation and Information Systems of Sofia Municipality. This flagship event brings together mayors, regional leaders and key stakeholders to debate the political priorities of the network and to provide strategic orientation in support of the twin green and digital transformation of EU cities and communities. 

The 2026 edition will take place under the theme “Key Technologies for Future-Proof Cities: from data spaces to digital twins”. It will explore the data-driven journey of a city, regardless of its size: from identifying its needs and challenges, through mapping dependencies for federated data spaces, to developing and using data platforms and digital twins in urban planning. 

Read more about the Digital Assembly and Living-in.EU here.